You gotta love Mr Mike Motherfuckin’ McCready, and while we should laud him for a moment here…this ain’t about him.

Another of Seattle’s greatest; Duff Motherfuckin’ McKagan, is the focus here.

After the release of a book by the same title, originally in 2011, the cinematic version, of It’s So Easy:and Other Lies (2016), now on Netflix, provides some much needed depth, and great visual additions.

Taking to the stage and baring his soul to a live audience, Duff reads from the book as his family and friends, including Slash, Nikki Sixx, and Susan Holmes-McKagan, fill in in the gaps via interviews.

McKagan is open and honest, and shines a much needed light on the very real struggles of addicts. When talking of his recovery, he becomes animated.

He also shines when he talks of his thirty plus years as a musician with bands such as The Walking Papers, Velvet Revolver, and the the more recently reunited Guns N Roses.

The band and accompanying string quartet provide a moving soundtrack to the theater performance, and serve to add theatrical emotion.

If you are a fan of music, a survivor of addiction, or you just need a decent watch, this should be near the top of your “to watch” list.

If you have ever heard anyone speak of a religious experience, be it a healing miracle, vision or other such fanatical behaviour, it will not have escaped your notice that what they speak of was probably experienced by no-one else. Likely if it was, they had both consumed the same amout of illegal and toxic substances prior to their trip!

It is a little more difficult to disprove this particular religious experience, as another 14/15,000 people were present. Each had boldly, bravely and bastardly, bulldozed their way through a full on blizzard. Howling winds of 70km and pelting, drifting snow. Alas some of those bound for Calgarys Scotiabank Saddledome on Dec 2 2013 didn’t make it past the drifts. Some, who were headed in from afar, wisely chose to stay put.

Pearl Jam with guests Mudhoney….

Not too many with tickets stayed away, those that made it are the converted, the fanatic and the very religious, including the reviewer.

Mudhoney are an acquired taste, but they are certainly a little addictive as they have a staunch following and they have beaten many a storm prior to this one. Still and likely always, a full on favorite of many. Travelling for 14 hours for Spokane, Washington to Calgary, Alberta for this show, the punk assed fuckers made loud seem quiet and with fervour. Singer Mark Arm is like Duracell Bunny. He just goes on and on. Not difficult to belive this band were the first ever to play atop Seattles Space needle in July of this year 2013. They just have an air of “We can do it you fuckers and see if we don’t”. Not the first time this middle-aged foursome have accompanied the headliners for a date or two here or there. Precisely twenty four years ago this very week, Mudhoney in a slightly altered lineup, accompanied the likes of Tad and Nirvana to London, England for Lamefest, supported by the Sub Pop record label and it’s founder Bruce Pavitt, who incidentally just released a book called “Experiencing Nirvana” documenting the trip!

If you ever get the chance, take in the aura of rotting rock and Arms weathered wardrobe. It’ll make you all bouncy!

Not knowing what to expect is half the fun and when it is at least five times better than the best show you ever saw before and there have been many, you know you have reached your Nirvana. Only this Nirvana is Pearl Jam!

The Pearl Jam set list for this Calgary show on December 2 2013 was incredible, more than incredible. It was amazeballs with glitter and some sprinkles, topped off with a dash of Cognac for the drinkers among you! Opening with Of The Girl from the Binuaral album and running through a plethora of favorites such as Evenflow and State Of Love and Trust, plus less commercially well-known classics such as Lukin and Rats. Singer Eddie Vedder was eager to toast those in attendance with a rather large bottle of alcoholic beverage and decreed “Let’s melt some fucking snow” before the band launched into the title track from the most recent record Lightning Bolt. Perhaps most obviously missing were Yellow Ledbetter and Jeremy, which was a massive hit for the band in the early days.

Incredible as it may seem, lead guitarist Mike McCready is little mentioned when it comes to lists of “THE BEST”. Unfathomable. McCready, who beat alcoholism and a very serious and potentially fatal stomach disease as a younger man is, without a shadow of a doubt one of the best in the world. A true musician in any sense of the word, he makes it look easy, but ripping it out when you are being leaned on by your singer, who is also giving his guitar a beating and subsequently falling into a pile on the floor in fits of hysterics, is not how most play a rock show, or a guitar. McCready should be awarded with something. Anything. Well, maybe not a Grammy. But just a nod to make the world a little more aware of his incredible talent.

Bassit and founding band member Jeff Ament, a little less hairy than in his younger days covers all basses, (Yes, I did just write that) playing both a modern electric instrument and a traditional upright. Ament laughed and joked with his band mates throughout the entire show and looked just as comfortable on stage as he does on a skateboard on his days off! His twenty something year marriage to the other lead guitarist and his co-founder Stone Gossard looking stronger than ever, as they chit-chat, cha-cha and chew the fat while 14,000 people look on…. Gossard, now a crusading environmentalist, hung out with his guitar relatively quietly on his corner of the stage. Making up dance moves as only he can. Well known for not wanting to sing live the songs that he sang when making records and that he indeed wrote, Gossard duly performed his “hallelujahs” on the song Do The Evolution. Gossard is currently between hairstyles and may or may not have been visually impaired during the show!

Anyone who knows even the slightest thing about Seattle music, is well aware that Matt Cameron is the drum slut of an area and an era. Having recently announced that he is “taking a break” from his other perch atop the Soundgarden throne, he was at the mercy of the devoted. He is the golden egg. Everyone wants him. Only Pearl Jam has him. He is possibly nailed down with his drum set and by god do the crowd know this. Only Cameron can change time so often, so randomly and so fast and make it sound like it should be doing that. Another for the list of greats. Someone should make that call to Dave Abbruzzese right now and thank him.

Vedder at one point during the show became quite giddy, when he sang a ditty from popular cartoon show The Simpsons, “Call Mr Plow that’s my name, that name again is Mr Plow!” referencing snow ploughs and the fact that Seattle has only two such machines! For a traditionally serious guy, his sense of humor is equally fabulous. He lives his feelings, heart on his sleeve and it is very apparent, not only in the writing of his material, but on the delivery of his show…….and it is his show. The vocal delivery of every fucking song is, well, there are no words. Just tears and feelings and emotions.

If like the reviewer prior to this show, you are a Pearl Jam live show virgin, you have to quickly remedy this problem. Never will you attend the show where almost everyone sings along to the entire set and where the singer could just sit down and rest his voice for the entire show. Never has a band looked more comfortable with each other, never has a better, more intense vibe been produced at a show. Never has a band played for two and a half (plus) hours ignoring curfews and never have more tears been shed at a live show. NEVER.

Lights and props really don’t count when the band is this fucking amazing. Pearl Jam proved that for the last four or five songs when they turned all the lights on and everyone was out in the open.

No gimmicks, no smokescreen, no diversion. Just you and them.

Unfortunately, none of what is written here is relevant. This review really is a waste of words, because words cannot actually describe what happened in that building. Homage needed to be paid in one way, shape or form. Buying tickets and spending $300 on merchandise didn’t seem to cut it, but then the words haven’t really worked either.

But…
In just under two weeks, Lightning Bolt, the first new record by Pearl Jam, (fronted by Vedder) for five years, is going to kick you in the balls, smack you around the face and pull the hairs on your ass.

The first single Mind Your Manners is a ballsy, punk production.

Once you hear the song Sirens, you won’t know whether to laugh or cry, but once you stop, sit down, shut the fuck up and pay attention.

METZ are intense live. Very similar in sound to a younger, gnarlier Nirvana. Pre Dave Grohl and Pat Smear!

They are experimental, they are masters of music and they caught the eye of none other than Duff McKagan, Seattle native, punk pro and former bassist and scribe with Guns n Roses…. The original line up.

Duff was out to support friends at Sub Pop and spend time with family and METZ caught the eye of the seasoned and respected musician.

“What do you know about these guys?” he asked.
TiTT offered that “METZ are Canadian” quite proudly and in return TiTT asked the question of METZ
“How did it feel to be noticed and appreciated by Duff McKagan?”

The reply was short and sweet.

“This is one of the easiest questions we’ve ever been asked.
We were incredibly stoked that the punk rock guy from Guns n Roses likes our band. The guy played on Appetite For Destruction.”

When asking the question “How many belts does a man need?” the reply to oneself could be “turns out, you need three.”

Tad Doyle, Charles Peterson, Bruce Pavitt, Jack Endino, Mark Arm, J Mascis and Larry Reid, among many, many others, were all in attendance for this one of a kind fashion advice and for the one day only Birthday celebration of Sup Pop records. Of course Sub Pop is now under the wing of Warner, not so much independent indie label now as more; mothered by the moguls.

The Panel

Who cares? It would seem that no-one does, if the turn out in Seattle’s Georgetown District on Saturday July 13 2013 was anything to go by. Of those in attendance, some had travelled from afar, Canada and Brazil included. Others were more local and prominent and included Duff McKagan and Chadd Channing.

SUB POP MEGA MART, was open for the birthday celebrations only. Selling re-issues, buttons, hats, tees and gum by the cart load and a wall of art, ideas, pictures and more, was set up inside, featuring many artists past and present, for your viewing pleasure.

Jones Soda bottles were specially labeled with Sub Pop stickers for the day and everyone was a LOSER. The sun shined all day and every one enjoyed the FREE music provided at the three stages. However, there were those who were disgruntled to find that one stage was part of the beer garden, so deeming it 21 plus. The show was advertised FREE, Family and ALL AGES. Many music fans are not yet 21 and many families were in attendance. Tad Doyles; Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth and Jack Endinos; Earthworm were two of the acts that became inaccessible to the younger crowd as a result of this.

Birthday Soda Pop

Not bad news was the fact that Mudhoney were on a different stage and delivered a kick ass set. A touch of a comedown after playing LATE NIGHT with Jimmy Fallon, a first TV performance for the band in 18 years, prior to then becoming the first ever band to play live atop the Seattle Space needle the day after. All part of the birthday celebrations and all well received by older and younger fans alike.

The early bird catches the worm!

Non Sub Poppers Feast, opened the show, well and with angst too. Pissed Jeans were also in the mix.

New comers on the Sub Pop label, METZ, from Toronto, Canada worked the crowd into a frenzy and played a set of songs that although many had never heard before, grabbed lots of attention, including that of McKagan and would surely prompt some smart purchases soon after.

Solo, it would seem that J Mascis is for an acquired taste. Many afront the stage that Mascis played were appearing bored and phased by the whole set. Mascis played well and sang with conviction, but even being presented by the Mayor of Seattle didn’t enthuse the crowd, who had quite obviously gathered for Mudhoney and Built To Spill.

Armed and slightly giddy!

I move my own shit, Mayor!

Big guns Soundgarden did not play. Interesting as Doyle had mouthed their name as part of the infomercial advertising the show. Kim Thayil, also included in the same video clip noticeably failed to appear. Of course Nirvana are no longer together….

Nonprofit radio in the way of KEXP, who have eternally supported the efforts of Sub Pop musicians were in attendance, as was Northwest Parkinsons Foundation. This as a result of Sub Pop co-founder Jonathan Ponemans announcement of the fact he has Parkinsons Disease, in May 2013.

Food , water and hippies were provided for the bash. Fashion sense and hair styling tips were not, socks and sandals and bad 80’s attire had re-surfaced especially for the occasion.

Making history today, Seattle band Mudhoney, as part of The Sub Pop Silver Anniversary (25 years) played 10 songs at the top of Seattle’s space needle.
The first band to ever do this, Mark Arm and co. looked surprisingly relaxed as they played, circled by a camera toting Charles Peterson, who was also making his own history by traveling in a helicopter for the first time.
J Mascis of Dinosaur Jnr fame was due to make an appearance. KEXB radio reported that Mascis had forgotten his appointment!

Mudhoney and Mascis, along with many other Sub Pop acts, past and present, will be appearing at Georgetown’s Airport Way South, (Seattle) as a part of the Silver Anniversary, on Saturday 13 July 2013, which is FREE to attend!